His insurance company is refusing to pay for the loss of his boat, saying that he made "incomplete, improper, and faulty repairs" to the vessel the day before it sank and that he knew it was "unseaworthy."

Lawyers for Carman and the insurance company met Monday behind closed doors with a federal magistrate judge in Rhode Island to discuss the case.

Both sides declined to comment after the hearing.

A court filing shows the judge issued a pretrial order that sets deadlines for discovery and other matters.